916 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



side, and that could be inclosed in a box and transported to Dobsis 

 stream, without disturbing the eggs. All these conditions were fulfilled 

 by a nest of wire-cloth trays inclosed in a frame of which the front and 

 top swung open at pleasure, allowing the trays to be placed or removed, 

 and which, when closed, held the trays firmly in place. The trays were 

 placed one upon another, but by making the corners of extra thickness 

 an open space one-eighth inch wide was secured on all four sides above 

 each tray. This contrivance proved to be very useful both in the open 

 stream and afterward in troughs of a hatching-house. For purpose of 

 transporting eggs in case of land journeys trays bottomed with cotton 

 flannel instead of wire-cloth were provided, but never brought into use. 



2. — TAKING SPAWN. 



The main net was put across the stream October 9. This prevented 

 any of the salmon passing down after this date and getting out of our reach. 

 The inclosures were not, however, put into shape to retain fish until Octo- 

 ber 28, it being thought better to allow them freedom as long as possible. 

 After this date they collected rapidly, but as they passed without our 

 interference into the large pound the number inclosed could not be accu- 

 rately known until they were all seined out of that pound, which was 

 not done until October 24. They appeared to come down in greatest 

 numbers during the first week in November; but they continued to come 

 until November 20. 



The first indications of the maturity of the fish were observed October 

 28, when two partly-formed ridds (or nests) were found just above our 

 nets. No attempt was, however, made to take spawn until November 6, 

 when, out of forty-eight female fish examined, twenty-five were found 

 ripe, and relieved of their eggs. The spawning proceeded from day to 

 day rather slowly until November 20, when the total number of eggs 

 obtained amounted to 550,000. On the 24th, we attacked the main 

 pound where there remained quite a body of fish. We finished handling 

 these on the 26th, and found among them twenty-nine unripe females. 

 Severe weather prevented the completion of the spawning operations 

 until December 8, at which late date two of the female fish still remained 

 unripe. The total number of Schoodic salmon was 2,628, consisting of 

 1,055 males, 1,571 females, and 2 of unknown sex. The eggs obtained 

 were estimated to amount to 1,077,500. 



Uncommonly severe weather was experienced during this season. 

 The ground began to freeze in October. Snow fell on eight days of 

 November. On the 18th of November the temperature of the air fell 

 to 13° F., and ice closed our communications with Dobsis stream while 

 as yet but half our spawn was taken. November 23 the mercury fell 

 to —3° F., and November 30 to — le^F. in the morning and — 7° F. at mid- 

 day. With such weather the working of nets and the handling of fish 

 and spawn was far from being an easy task. 



